Holder for brooms and other articles.



A. mm.- HOLDER FOR BROOMS AND OTHERARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED ADEC|2I| 19H5.y

1,246,492. Patented-Nov. 13, 1917.

WITN ESSE-'QS ing portionsflr?, constituting shanks, which normally lie along the inner 'faces oli the end ivalls of the base member 1. rl`hese shank portions 12 have lugs 13 formed on their inner faces, said lugs being directed toivard each other and adapted to receive the ends of an expansion spring le of the ordinary coiled type. rl'he action of the coiled spring le is to normally maintain the shanks 12 securely against the inner faces of the end ivallsA ivhen the device is not in use, and consequently to torce the outer or active ends of the fingers 7 toward each other to exert a clamping action ngen the handle of a broom or other article.

As the bearing recesses 8 are open-ended, in order to prevent the accidental dislodgment of the gripping lingers 7, a retaining plate l5 is employed, which is adapted to be placed ivitiiin the base member or casing immediately in rear of the frontivall thereof, and to lie against the Wall surrounding the recesses S, which ivall is formed as a continuation of the Jiront ivall ot the housing. The retaining plate 15 is of a Width to tit loosely betiveen the inclined upper and lower ivalls 2 and 3, respectively, and is bifurcated at each end, as at 16, for the purpose ot receiving the shanks 1:2 Within said bifurcations 16 at a point between the lugs 13 and the trunnions 9.

An outward pull on the gripping fingers v'i' will result in a consequent inivard movement of the shank portions 12 by reason of the tapered end walls of the base member l, thereby bringing the lugs 13 with the coiled spring 1l mounted thereon into contact 'with the rear face ot the retaining plate l5, and it will thus be seen that the latter will edsctually prevent the dislodgment of the gripping lingers from their projected position in the base member 1.

By reference to Fig. 4 of the drawing it will be seen that upon the introduction of a broom, or tool handle between the dared outer ends ot the gripping fingers 7, the latter will be forced apart, as indicatedin dotted lines in said gure, thus resulting in a compression olf the spring le, when the latter will eilectually maintain the gripping action of the fingers 7 against said article and support the same in the desired manner.

The inclined upper ivall 2 of the base member l will tend to shed Water, dust, or

the like, While the lateral extensions'formcd on the gripping fingers are calculated to prevent ingress of the same to the interior ot the structure. Thus the device is admirably adapted for indoor or outdoor useb ln assembling the device, it is only necessary to place a gripping ringer 7 in a position having the trunnions 9 seated in the recesses 8, and to invert the same in order to position the retaining plate 15 on the interior of the base member 1. By tilting the needles said plate 15 the same may readily be positioned beliint. the lugs 13, after ivliich the spring le may be easily introduced over the legs 13, ivhen the device Yis assembled ivithout the use of rivets or screws, or other fastening means to hold the same in assembled position.

lfrom the foregoing ivill be seen that a device oi. extremely simple construction has been devised, and which may be formed of very cheap material, and that the same is readily assembled and thus capable oie inanufacture at a very low cost.

lllhat is claimed is:-

1. l device of the class described, coinprising a hollenrv base member, having an elongated opening in its front vvall` gripping lingers having their inner ends extending into the said member, trunnions provided on the lingers and removably en gaging bearings formed in the ivalls of said opening, a spring within the base member and engaging the inner ends of the lingers, and removable rigid means engaging the inner ends of the fingers within the base member in advance of the spring'and adapted to retain the trunnions of the lingers in said bearings. Y i

Q.. A ldevice of the class described, comprising a holloiv base member having an opening in its front, bearing recesses formed in the ivalls of the opening, gripping fingers extending at their inner ends through the opening and provided with trunnions fitting in the bearings, a springgivitliin the base member to force the inner ends of the fingers apart, and a retaining plate also located ivitliin the base member in advance of the spring to prevent dislodgment of the lingers from the base member.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a holloiv base member having an opening in its front, bearing recesses formed in the ivalls of the opening, gripping lingers extending at their inner ends through the opening and provided ivith trunnions litting in the bearings, laterally extending arms formed on the lingers adjacentrthe trun nions and extending inwardly toward each other andoverlapping at their ends to form substantially a complete closure for said opening, a spring within the base member to force the inner ends of the fingers apart, and a retaining plate also located ivitliin the base member in advance of the spring to prevent the dislodgment of the lingers from the base member.

fl. A holder for brooms or like articles, comprising a hollow base member having an elongated entrance opening formed in the front thereof, gripping fingers extending-at their inner ends through said opening, spaced, alined bearing recesses formed in the Walls of the opening, trunnions carried by the lingers in advance'o their in` ner ends and adapted to rock in the recesses, a spring within the base member and engaging the inner ends of the lingers, and a plate also located within the base member and having an open ended slot in each end,-

said slots being adapted to engage the lingers in advance of the spring and in rear of the front wall of the base to prevent the dislodgnient of the trunnions from the recesses.

5. A holder for articles comprising a hollow base member adapted to be secured to a wall or support and having side walls converging forwardly, the front wall being provided with an elongated entrance opening, outwardly directed gripping fingers eX- tending through the opening and engaging said converging walls, alined bearing recesses formed in the iront wall of the base member, alined trunnions carried by the gripping lingers and adapted to rock in said bearing recesses, inwardly extending arms provided on the lingers adjacent the trunnions and having their inner ends overlapping to form substantially a complete closure for said opening, a plate having bifurcated ends located within the hollow base member adjacent to the front wall thereof, said bifurcated ends engaging the side walls and the Shanks of the gripping fingers to retain the latter within their respective recesses, and a coiled spring Within the base member engaging the inner ends of said lingers to force the outer ends of the fingers toward each other.

n testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ADOLPH THIELE.

Witnesses:

MABEL R. DIXON, SAMUEL l/V. DIXON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

